Existing cables key part of home networks

The number of US households setting up domestic networks over TV coaxial cable or phone wiring will climb "dramatically" between 2007 and 2009, experts predict.

Analyst firm In-Stat noted that service providers that network set-top boxes together are increasingly looking to use existing wiring in consumers' homes.

Approximately 90 per cent of all US homes have at least one coaxial cable outlet (not including those used solely for a roof antenna), while almost 99 per cent have one or more telephone wall jacks.

"The cost of deployment is the primary driver behind the use of existing residential wiring," said In-Stat analyst Joyce Putscher.

"However, providers realise that the condition and age of coaxial and phone wiring, and the way it has been installed in some residences, may still necessitate some wiring runs.

"This means that additional costs may still be incurred for deployment schemes that use alternative-wire networking, but significantly lower than running Ethernet."

Recent research by In-Stat predicts that global cumulative chipsets/nodes over coaxial and phone wiring will see growth over 100 per cent in 2008.